Best Western Plus Colony Inn

Can you believe this hotel is just 5 minutes away from Downtown Halifax?

Matt and I planned a quick trip to Nova Scotia and stayed at the Best Western Plus Chocolate Lake Hotel which exceeded all of our expectations! Just a short drive into downtown we were able to explore the entire city and all it has to offer without breaking the bank.

We rented a car and went on a road trip around Cape Breton Island which is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been, you cannot come to Nova Scotia and skip out on it!!

We would not have been able to pull this trip off without Best Western. As always, leaving with the best memories🤍

📷 @ meaganglesmann on IG

Who says you have to sleep outdoors to enjoy nature…

Glacier National Park, “The Crown of the Continent,” is full of adventure, wildlife and stunning views. You could spend countless hours exploring it.

But it was so nice to have a shower, hot breakfast and comfy bed to return back to each day.

The Best Western Kalispell/Glacier Park is a great value and perfect location for exploring the park. There are lots of restaurants nearby to grab a bite to eat.
It’s also about 30 minutes to Flathead Lake: the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River and one of the cleanest lakes in the world.

Tell us: are you pitching a tent or sleeping in a nice warm bed while exploring Glacier National Park?

📷 @ wander.smore on IG

Welcome to Ha Long Bay 🇻🇳

One of the seven natural wonders of the world, known for its majestical floating mountains covered in lush jungles surrounded by emerald waters. Tucked away in the maze of mountains, you can find floating villages that have been around for thousands of years, still used as homes for fishermen and their families, hours from any city or town.

The only way to access these communities and meet the locals is by taking a boat from Ha Long City, which is where you need to stay. For the best view possible, book a room at the Best Western Premier Sapphire Ha Long Bay. You definitely don’t want to miss this when planning your next trip to Vietnam!

📷 @ colinduthie on IG and TT

Part 2 driving the International Selkirk Loop

This drive has been on our must-do list for a long time. It’s a 280-mile scenic drive that circles the Selkirk Mountains of Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia.

And it’s one of only 32 All-American Road National Scenic Byways in the U.S.

We planned a 3-day itinerary, spending the first day/night in beautiful Sandpoint, Idaho, and the second night in Nelson, British Columbia.

Itinerary from Sandpoint, ID to Nelson, B.C.:

Shopped at the Bonners Ferry Saturday Farmers Market,
Stopped for coffee and donuts at the Mountain Barn in Creston, B.C.,
Toured the Glass House, made from 500,000 embalming fluid bottles,
Visited the shops in the artisan community of Crawford Bay,
Took the ferry across Kootenay Lake, the longest free ferry ride in the world

Then, we headed to the charming historic town of Nelson, where we checked into the Best Western Plus Baker Street, a beautiful hotel in the heart of the town’s boutiques and restaurants.

Our 3-day experience on the International Selkirk Loop had everything you could ask for: stunning scenery, local eateries, charming towns, quirky roadside attractions, and great lodging.

📷 @ mattandkarensmith on IG

Driving the International Selkirk Loop has been on our must-do list for a long time. It’s a 280-mile scenic drive that circles the Selkirk Mountains of Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia.

And it’s one of only 32 All-American Road National Scenic Byways in the U.S.

We planned a 3-day itinerary, spending the first day/night in beautiful Sandpoint, Idaho.

What we did:
We drove up to the Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort and hopped on the Great Escape Quad for a scenic ride to the top of Schweitzer. Once we reached the summit, we enjoyed a delicious lunch at Sky House.

We rented kayaks at the marina and paddled around Lake Pend Oreille,

Dinner/drinks at Barrel 33, with outdoor seating on beautiful Sand Creek,

Ice cream at Panhandle Cone & Coffee,

A sunset walk-through City Beach Park, along Lake Pend Oreille

We stayed at the Best Western Plus Ponderay Mountain Lodge, a beautiful hotel just three miles from the heart of Sandpoint.

Next up in Part 2, we head to the Canadian side of the loop.

📷 on IG

Bucket List Switzerland Itinerary Pt. 2 👇

SEND THIS TO YOUR TRAVEL BUDDY

🪂 Paragliding In Interlaken

Did you know that Interlaken, Switzerland is one of the world’s top paragliding destinations?! With Skywings Paragliding you can soar through the air and take in the breathtaking views of the world -famous Swiss Alps and fly above the deep blue Lake of Thun.

🛷 Alpine Coaster

The Oeschinensee Mountain Coaster is fast-paced fun with tight turns and downhill straights that is sure to provide thrills and tingling sensations.

🥾Oeschinensee Panorama Hike

This spectacular hike above the stunning Oeschinensee lake has panoramic views of snow-capped mountain peaks, waterfalls, and one of the brightest blue glacial lakes we’ve ever seen! The hike is 4.5 miles with 1,500ft of elevation gain and rated “hard” on All-Trails.

⛰️ Harder Kulm

A trip up to Harder Kulm is a trip to the Top of Interlaken! Highlights include a viewing platform with incredible views of Lake Brienz, Lake Thun, and the majestic summits Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, the Panorama Restaurant, playground, viewpoint, and a short hike.

🫕 Fondue

Fondue is one of the most traditional culinary experiences in Switzerland. It’s the most popular cheese dish that every visitor should try at least once. We enjoyed our fondue at the Harder Kulm Panorama Restaurant with unbelievable views!

🛶 Lake Thun

This crystal-blue lake in Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland region is surrounded by mountains, meadows, forests, and alpine pastures and perfect for water sports and relaxation!

⛵️ Stay at Best Western Premier Hotel Beaulac Neuchâtel in Switzerland

Located on the beautiful Lake Neuchatel, this Best Western hotel provides stunning views, style, class, and comfort. The daily breakfast was delicious, rooms spacious, and staff friendly and professional. This was, without a doubt, one of our favorite places we stayed during our European Summer road trip.



📷 @ georgeandcris on IG

👇 Itinerary details below 👇

SEND THIS TO YOUR TRAVEL BUDDY

📍 Grindelwald-First | Top of Adventure

🚠 Grindelwald-First is the perfect place to start your bucket list adventures in Switzerland. With just a 25 minute gondola ride you arrive at the “Top of Adventure” where you find everything from panoramic mountian views, alpine lakes, beautiful hikes, and thrilling adventure activities such as…

🏎️ First Mountain Cart

This thrilling ride down a 3km natural road is basically Mario Kart in real life! It’s a cross between a go-kart and sled and the views of the Swiss Alps during your downhill ride are incredible!

🦅 First Glider

Soar like an Eagle through the mountain landscape at speeds up to 83km/h- all while lying down on your stomach!

🪽 First Flyer

Fly 50 meters above alpine meadows at speeds up to 84km/h on this bucket list zip line.

⛰️ First Cliff Walk

This isn’t your average viewing platform- it’s a must visit attraction for adventure seekers and nature lovers. This metal walkway, extending from the side of a cliff, is suspended 2,000 meters above the ground with jaw-dropping views of the Jungfrau mountains and Grindelwald valley.

📍 Lauterbrunnen | Valley of 72 Waterfalls

Regarded as one of the most beautiful valleys in Europe, Lauterbrunnen is home to majestic waterfalls, towering steep rock walls, and all the magical charm of a Swiss mountain town.

📍Lindt “Home of Chocolate” Tour

A tour of the Lindt Home of Chocolate covers every aspect of this Swiss cultural asset chocolate, including a chocolate fountain over 9m tall and the biggest Lindt Chocolate Shop in the world. This interactive world of chocolate is perfect for chocolate lovers because not only do you learn about the fascinating history of chocolate and the process of making chocolate …but there are more free chocolate samples than you could ever want.

📍 Stay at Best Western Hotel Spirgarten

This stylish and modern Best Western hotel in Zurich is just 15 minutes from the city center and has excellent transportation connections making it a great base camp for your Swiss adventures.

📷 @ georgeandcris on IG

Planning a trip to Chicago? We found the perfect hotel for you with Best Western!

We chose the The Whitehall Hotel BW Premier Collection by Best Western for our stay and we couldn’t have asked for a better location.

We were able to walk to most of the main things on our list and it was only a short walk from Lake Michigan.

We had such a comfortable stay which was much needed after all the walking we did everyday. The hotel was also very welcoming to pets which is an essential for us!

I hope you enjoyed our dog friendly guide to Chicago and we can’t to show you where we go next with Parker

📷: .dachshund on IG

We’ve heard from a lot of people who have specific travel goals- some plan to visit all the national parks, some want to visit every U.S. state, or maybe every Major League Baseball stadium.

But no matter what the end goal is, creating a checklist or a theme of places to see is the vehicle to get out and explore new territory, and most likely have an adventure or two. Success isn’t measured by when you finally finish the journey, but by what you find, experience and learn along the way.

Wherever your travel goals take you, you’ll find a host of unique Best Western properties along the way.

Do you have a specific travel goal you’re working toward?

📷: MattandKaren

Hotel hack #6 is critical for us 🤪

We had a little staycation with Best Western and wanted to share some hotel hacks we’ve picked up along the way! ✨

📷 Where Is Briggs

3 DAYS IN ITALY 🇮🇹 Itinerary below👇

Day One:

🛎️ Check into to Hotel Paradiso BW Signature Collection By Best Western.

This is a beautiful 4 star is situated on a hill with a spectacular view of the Gulf of Naples and Mount Vesuvius.

This surprisingly affordable, unique hotel experience comes complete with comfortable rooms, a rooftop terrace restaurant with stunning views, private pool, a beautiful solarium, and has been designed with elegance, style, and individuality. Plus, it’s just a ferry ride away from iconic places like the Amalfi Coast and the magical island of Capri.

🚇 After getting settled at the hotel, head to Toledo Art Station.
This shining multi-colored metro station is a must see. With its stunning mosaics and vibrant LED lighting, it’s not just a subway stop but a visual treat for commuters and visitors alike. It is said to be “Europe’s Most Beautiful Metro Station”.

👨🏻‍🍳 That evening, take part in a traditional Neapolitan Pizza Making Class. We took a class with a local chef and used all fresh ingredients- this was a must…after all, Naples is the birthplace of Pizza!

Day Two:

⛴️ Take a ferry to the Island of Capri.
Enjoy a boat tour around the island to learn about the history and take in the breathtaking views. Afterwards, enjoy the scenic chair lift ride to the very top of the island for the best panoramic views.

🍕 Take the ferry back to Naples and have dinner at Pizzeria Da Michele which was established in 1870. It is Michelin Star award winning and only costs €5.50 per pizza! It’s also where Julia Robert’s iconic pizza scene was filmed in her movie “Eat Pray Love”.

Day Three:

🍋 Take a ferry to Positano.
Dine at Li Galli and savor delicious lemon spaghetti with a view of the iconic coastline. Then wander the shops, grab some local lemon sorbet, and head down to the beach for some swimming and relaxing.



📷 @ georgeandcris on IG

Exploring River North Chicago was made easy by Best Western River North Hotel‘s perfect location. It was walking distance from everything we needed to have a fantastic day. For your next hot girl walk in River North here is your itinerary:

Happy Monday Coffee
Mr. Beef
Portillos
Matcha Cita
Potbelly
Chicago Architecture Boat Tour
Solidcore
Sushi-San

Happy walking! 🚶🏾‍♀️

📷 @ iamcamillesmith on IG

Lake Tahoe Trip! 🏔️

I spent this last weekend exploring Lake Tahoe and here are my recommendations:

1. Stay at Hotel Becket, BW Signature Collection by Best Western. It’s in South Lake in the middle of everything and a great area for families and adults!
2. Visit Emerald Bay and see Vikingsholm Castle and rent kayaks to explore the water 🛶
3. Head to North Shore and go to Kings Beach
4. Visit Sand Harbor beach (my favorite!!) and it’s so perfect for swimming in the coves 🏖️
5. Hike down to Secret Cove and relax in the hidden sun!
6. Drive to Lake Echo (about 20 minutes away) and hike to the upper Lake and take the water taxi back to your car! 🏔️

📷 The Flipped Piece

A four day roadtrip driving 36 hours through seven states from Alabama to Canada (with my dog and cat) may seem intimidating, but Best Western made our trip EASY and enjoyable!

I didn’t have to worry about trying to find pet-friendly hotels, because has over 1200+ pet-friendly locations in North America and I was able to find conveniently located stays all along our route!

Where we stayed:
📍Best Western Premier Liberty Inn & Suites in Missouri
📍Best Western Plus Rapid City Rushmore in South Dakota
📍Best Western Plus Riverfront Hotel And Suites, in Montana



📷: @ mywildmeadows on IG

The town of Wall, South Dakota might be tiny, but this “window to the west” is a hub for outdoor recreation and fun local attractions.

Here are some of our favorites-

Badlands National Park: At the Pinnacles entrance, only 8 miles from Wall, you’ll find some of the best viewpoints in the park, and if you’re lucky, you’ll see bison hanging around the entrance sign. It’s the gateway to one of the most unique national parks in the country.

Wall Drug: since 1931 America’s favorite roadside attraction has been welcoming visitors with free ice water and five-cent coffee. It’s grown into a 76,000-square-foot shopping destination where you can buy a cowboy hat or a new pair of boots after you’ve finished your legendary hot beef sandwich.

Buffalo Gap National Grasslands: this vast grassland covers over 600,000 acres and offers visitors stunning scenery, biking, horseback riding, and plenty of opportunities for wildlife viewing.

Minuteman Missile National Historical Site: a fascinating NPS site just 20 miles away.

When we’re visiting this area, we always stay in Wall at the Plains Motel. With free breakfast and two swimming pools, it’s the perfect home base for all our adventures.

Have you been to Wall yet?

📷 Dear Bob and Sue

Catch waves then catch some z's with comfy beds at Best Western. 🌊 Find us along a coast near you for your next perfect surf spot!

📍Best Western Premier Hotel Del Mar (Torrey Pines State Beach, CA)
📍Best Western Envoy Inn (Sea Isle City, NJ)
📍Best Western Plus Agate Beach Inn (Otter Rock, OR)
📍Best Western York Inn (Long Sands Beach, ME)
📍Best Western Cocoa Beach Hotel & Suites (Cocoa Beach, FL)
📍Best Western Plus Seawall Inn & Suites by the Beach (Galveston Beach, TX)